Banacek Series Free
Let's Hear It for a Living Legend
Banacek, a suave, debonair, freelance insurance investigator, only takes on the impossible cases and at twice the normal recovery fee. Insurance companies are loath to call on his services for the. Banacek (one of the rotating elements of The NBC Mystery Movie) is a short-lived, light-hearted detective TV series starring George Peppard which aired on NBC from 1972 to 1974. Peppard played Thomas Banacek, a suave, Polish-American freelance investigator based in Boston, who solved seemingly impossible thefts. He then collected from the.
Season 1, Episode 1
September 13, 1972
Banacek searches for a football halfback who vanished in front of a packed stadium. Angie Ives: Stefanie Powers. Jay: Ralph Manza. Ritchie Mulligan: John Brodie. Jerry Brinkman: Robert Webber. Felix: Murray Matheson.
Project Phoenix
Season 1, Episode 2
September 27, 1972
Talk about a disappearing act: a $5,000,000 experimental car has vanished without a trace---together with a 25-ton freight car it was riding on. Banacek: George Peppard. Wexter: William Windom. Chris Verden: Joanna Pettet. Thaddenhurst: Herb Edelman.
No Sign of the Cross
Season 1, Episode 3
October 11, 1972
Search for a gold cross that vanished on the way from Mexico to Los Angeles. Banacek: George Peppard. De Retzo: Broderick Crawford. Andros: Victor Jory. Alisa: Louise Sorel. Weymouth: Gordon Pinsent. Lanier: Jack MacGowran.
A Million the Hard Way
Season 1, Episode 4
November 1, 1972
Jackpot in Vegas for someone who caused a million dollars to go poof. Banacek: George Peppard. Linda: Margot Kidder. Leland: Don Porter. Loomis: Don Keefer. Sawyer: J. Duke Russo.
To Steal a King
Season 1, Episode 5
November 15, 1972
A coin collector's priceless collection has vanished. Banacek: George Peppard. Alan: Kevin McCarthy. Lydia: Janis Paige. Sharon: Brenda Vaccaro. Donniger: Pernell Roberts. Oliver: Roger C. Carmel. Roland: Logan Ramsey.
$10,000 a Page
Season 1, Episode 6
January 10, 1973
Murder plays a part in a drama about a valuable book stolen from a supposedly theft-proof display case. Banacek: George Peppard. Walter Tyson: David Wayne. Felix: Murray Matheson. Jill Hammond: Stella Stevens.
The Greatest Collection of Them All
Season 1, Episode 7
January 24, 1973
How to lift $23,000,000 worth of paintings from a sealed truck. Banacek: George Peppard. Gloria: Penny Fuller. Jason: Mike Farrell. Allan: Lloyd Gough. Casey: Arch Johnson. Sailor: Barbara Stuart.
The Two Million Clams of Cap'n Jack
Season 1, Episode 8
February 7, 1973
Out of sight: a set of engraved stock certificate plates. Banacek: George Peppard. Erika: Jessica Walter. Cap'n Jack: Andrew Duggan. Penniman: Linden Chiles. Morgan: David White. Osburn: William Schallert.
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| Banacek | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Crime drama |
| Created by | Anthony Wilson |
| Starring | |
| Theme music composer | Billy Goldenberg[1] |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 17 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | George Eckstein |
| Producer(s) | Howie Horwitz |
| Running time | 90 min |
| Production company(s) | Universal Television |
| Distributor | NBCUniversal Television Distribution |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Audio format | Monaural |
| Original release | March 20, 1972 – March 12, 1974 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | NBC Mystery Movie |
Banacek is an American detective TV series starring George Peppard that aired on the NBC network from 1972 to 1974. The series was part of the rotating NBC Wednesday Mystery Movie anthology. It alternated in its time slot with several other shows, but was the only one of them to last beyond its first season.
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- 6Episodes
Premise[edit]
Peppard played Thomas Banacek, a suave, Polish-American freelance investigator based in Boston, who solved seemingly impossible thefts (see locked room mystery). He then collected from the insurance companies 10% of the insured value of the recovered property. One of Banacek's verbal signatures was the quotation of strangely worded yet curiously cogent 'Polish' proverbs such as:
- 'If you're not sure that it's potato borscht, there could be orphans working in the mines.'
- 'Though the hippopotamus has no sting, the wise man would prefer to be sat upon by the bee.'
- 'A truly wise man never plays leapfrog with a unicorn.'
- 'When a wolf is chasing your sleigh, throw him a raisin cookie, but don't stop to bake a cake.'
- 'Just because the cat has her kittens in the oven doesn't make them biscuits.'
- 'You can read all the books in the library my son, but the cheese will still stink after four days.'
- 'No matter how warm the smile on the face of the Sun, the cat still has her kittens under the porch.'
- 'Even a one thousand zloty note cannot tap dance.'
Part of the joke was that Ralph Manza as Banacek's chauffeur Jay Drury, would often ask 'What does it mean, Boss?' Banacek also had a running agreement with his chauffeur for a 10% share of Banacek's 10% if he solved the crime. Mr. Drury was never at a loss for a potential solution which Banacek would always manage to shoot down with his very next line. Another recurring gag was for other characters to mispronounce his name, often, particularly in the case of rivals, deliberately. The name 'Banaczek' (as pronounced in the show) is actually quite rare in Poland.[2]
Also featured were Murray Matheson as rare-bookstore owner and information source Felix Mulholland and Christine Belford as Carlie Kirkland, Banacek's sometime-lover and always-rival. Felix was the series' only character to ever call Banacek by his first name.
Banacek's success as an investigator allowed him to live well. He had a mansion at 85 Mt. Vernon Street, (the same house used in The Thomas Crown Affair starring Steve McQueen)[3][citation needed] on Beacon Hill in Boston. He had a limousine and driver. He owned and drove an antique 1941 Packard convertible. He had a mobile radio telephone in each of his cars at a time when these devices were uncommon and expensive. Banacek was intelligent, well-educated, cultured and suave. He was an unapologetic ladies man who enjoyed the company of beautiful women, but he was street-smart and could engage in violent hand-to-hand fighting if the moment called for it.
The Thomas Crown Affair premise had been that a bored, wealthy Boston businessman (McQueen) masterminds a crime, leading to a match of wits with an insurance investigator (Faye Dunaway) who collects a 10 percent fee from the insurance company if she solves the case. Banacek borrowed elements of both characters and plot points.
Production[edit]
In general, the series was shot on the Universal Studios backlot, though location scenes were filmed around Los Angeles in areas that could pass for Boston, or rural areas near there. The episode titled 'If Max Is So Smart, Why Doesn't He Tell Us Where He Is?' was shot on location at the California Institute of the Arts around the time the school first opened. 'Ten Thousand Dollars A Page' was filmed at the Pasadena Art Museum, later known as the Pasadena Museum of Modern Art and now the Norton Simon Museum of Art.
A customized 1969 American Motors AMX was built by George Barris for the second regular-season episode.[4] The car became known as the AMX-400 and it is now owned by an automobile collector.[5] Other continuing cars in the series were a 1941 Packard 180 with a Victoria body designed by Howard 'Dutch' Darrin (license plate number 178344),[6] a 1973 Corvette (driven by Ms. Kirkland) and a 1973 Cadillac Fleetwoodlimousine (mobile telephone number KL 17811). In keeping with both the exotic car theme and the humor between Banacek and his driver Jay Drury, he was even chauffeured around in a Willys MB, Jeep CJ2A,[7] and a CJ6,[8] as well as a brand new Ford/De Tomaso Pantera.
In preparation for both the pilot, first, and then the second seasons, the cast went to Boston and filmed a variety of background scenes. These scenes were then used through the series and are especially shown in the opening scenes, including Banacek rowing on the Charles River and walking through Government Center. In the pilot, Banacek's car pulls into his Beacon Hill home, the historic Second Harrison Gray Otis House located at 85 Mount Vernon Street. In other episodes, views are shown of the Public Garden, the entry to Felix's bookstore at 50 Beacon Street, and the Esplanade. The Boston-filmed pieces were done by a second unit and directed by Peppard himself.
Reception[edit]
Although the show had a mixture of humor and rather intricate plots, it never generated strong ratings. Despite this, the show was well received by critics. In addition, the Polish American Congress gave the series an award for portraying Polish Americans in a good manner.[9]
Cancellation[edit]
Banacek was well received by television critics, and as a result was picked up for a third season. However, before the third season could start, Peppard quit the show to prevent his ex-wife Elizabeth Ashley from receiving a larger percentage of his earnings as part of their divorce settlement. The complication ended any chance of reviving Banacek during Peppard's lifetime. A&E continued rebroadcasts of Banacek in syndication.
In popular culture[edit]
The mentalist Steven Shaw adopted his stage name 'Banachek' after the television program.[10]
In 2018, Banacek was the subject of an episode-length parody in The Simpsons ('Homer Is Where The Art Isn't'), referencing items from the series' storytelling format to its establishing shots, including Goldenberg's theme music.[11]
Episodes[edit]
Pilot: 1972[edit]
| Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Banacek: Detour to Nowhere' | Jack Smight | Anthony Wilson | 20 March 1972 | |
| Banacek finds himself in a race against his old adversary, Chief McKinney of the National Meridian Insurance Company, to solve the case of a missing armored truck carrying $1,600,000 of gold bullion that disappeared without a trace while under a police escort. | ||||
Season 1: 1972–73[edit]
| No. in series | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 'Let's Hear It for a Living Legend' | Jack Smight | Del Reisman | 13 September 1972 | |
| Banacek is called in after a football player vanishes on national TV. Guest stars Stefanie Powers, Anitra Ford and John Brodie. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | 'Project Phoenix' | Richard T. Heffron | David Moessinger | 27 September 1972 | |
| Banacek investigates the disappearance of a valuable prototype automobile, and the flatcar it was riding on, from a moving train (an idea borrowed from a Thorpe Hazell short story). Guest stars William Windom, Joanna Pettet, Bert Convy. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | 'No Sign of the Cross' | Daryl Duke | Robert Presnell Jr., Howard Browne | 11 October 1972 | |
| Banacek searches for a valuable church artifact that disappeared from a sealed box. Guest stars Broderick Crawford, Louise Sorel | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | 'A Million the Hard Way' | Bernard L. Kowalski | Stanley Ralph Ross | 1 November 1972 | |
| A million dollars vanish from a Las Vegas casino display. Guest star Margot Kidder; writer Stanley Ralph Ross appears as Larry Fields. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | 'To Steal a King' | Louis Antonio | Stephen Kandel | 15 November 1972 | |
| Banacek searches for a missing coin collection. Guest stars Kevin McCarthy, Brenda Vaccaro, Pernell Roberts, Roger C. Carmel, Janis Paige. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | 'Ten Thousand Dollars a Page' | Richard T. Heffron | Paul Playdon | 10 January 1973 | |
| A valuable book disappears from a highly secure room. Guest stars Stella Stevens, David Doyle, David Wayne. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | 'The Greatest Collection of Them All' | George McCowan | Theodore J. Flicker | 24 January 1973 | |
| A charity art exhibit disappears right off the truck during shipment. Guest stars Penny Fuller, Mike Farrell. | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | 'The Two Million Clams of Cap'n Jack' | Richard T. Heffron | Stanley Ralph Ross, Shirl Hendryx, Pat Fielder, Richard Bluel | 7 February 1973 | |
| Plates used in the printing of stock certificates vanish. Guest stars Andrew Duggan, Jessica Walter. | ||||||
Season 2: 1973–74[edit]
| No. in series | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 1 | 'No Stone Unturned' | Richard T. Heffron | Stephen Lord, Robert Van Scoyk, Lee Santley, George Sheldon Smith | 3 October 1973 | |
| Banacek must locate a three-ton statue that disappeared. Guest stars Candy Clark, Scott Brady, Gary Lockwood. | ||||||
| 10 | 2 | 'If Max Is So Smart, Why Doesn't He Tell Us Where He Is?' | Bernard L. Kowalski | Robert Van Scoyk | 7 November 1973 | |
| A huge medical computer vanishes from its secure building. Guest stars Anne Baxter, Richard Jordan, Sabrina Scharf. | ||||||
| 11 | 3 | 'The Three Million Dollar Piracy' | Andrew McLaglen | Stanley Ralph Ross, Robert Van Scoyk, Jack Turley | 21 November 1973 | |
| An expensive wedding coach is stolen from the hold of a ship. Guest stars Christine Belford, Arlene Martel. | ||||||
| 12 | 4 | 'The Vanishing Chalice' | Bernard L. Kowalski | Morton Fine | 15 January 1974 | |
| An ancient chalice disappears from a museum during the unveiling. Guest stars Cesar Romero, John Saxon. | ||||||
| 13 | 5 | 'Horse of a Slightly Different Color' | Herschel Daugherty | Harold Livingston, Jimmy Sangster | 22 January 1974 | |
| A racehorse disappears from the track. Guest stars Anne Francis, Terry Wilson, Lane Bradbury, Harry Carey, Jr. | ||||||
| 14 | 6 | 'Rocket to Oblivion' | Andrew McLaglen | Robert Van Scoyk | 12 February 1974 | |
| A prototype rocket engine vanishes during a private showing. Guest star Linda Evans. | ||||||
| 15 | 7 | 'Fly Me — If You Can Find Me' | Bernard L. Kowalski | Harold Livingston | 19 February 1974 | |
| After an emergency landing, an airliner vanishes. Guest stars Sterling Hayden, Victoria Principal. | ||||||
| 16 | 8 | 'Now You See Me, Now You Don't' | Bernard McEveety | Stanley Roberts | 12 March 1974 | |
| A stage magician, suspected of grand larceny, disappears during his act — but for real. Guest stars Gretchen Corbett, Peter Marshall. | ||||||
Home media[edit]
Arts Alliance America has released the entire series on DVD in Region 1. Season one was released on May 15, 2007, without the series pilot. Season two was released on January 22, 2008, and included the pilot episode. On September 30, 2008, Arts Alliance released Banacek: The Complete Series, a five-disc boxset featuring all 16 episodes.
In Region 2, Fabulous Films released both seasons on DVD in the UK on February 10, 2014.[12][13]
In Region 4, Madman Entertainment has released both seasons on DVD in Australia.[14][15]
References[edit]
- ^Harris, Steve (1988). Film, television, and stage music on phonograph records: a discography. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. p. 280. ISBN978-0-89950-251-9. OCLC15790964.
- ^'Polish Surnames Database'. nazwiska-polskie.pl.
- ^The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), retrieved 2018-02-03
- ^''Banacek' AMX 400'. Barris Custom. 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- ^Auto Editors of Consumer Guide (23 September 2007). 'AMX-400: Profile of a Custom Car'. HowStuffWorks.com. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- ^'1942 Packard One-Eighty Convertible Victoria by Darrin'. Sothebys. 2 August 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- ^'Willys MB 'Jeep''. imcdb.org. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- ^'Jeep CJ-6'. imcdb.org. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- ^The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946–Present. Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 85. ISBN0-345-45542-8.
- ^Draper, Paul. 'Banachek LIVE Video Q&A on Full Circle Magic, Streamed on Nov. 19, 2014'. YouTube.com. Retrieved 14 Nov 2017.
- ^Perkins, Dennis (March 18, 2018). 'Bill Hader helps The Simpsons stick it to that Banacek guy, who must work there or something'. The AV Club. Onion, Inc. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^'Fabulous Films'. FabulousFilms.com. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^'Fabulous Films'. FabulousFilms.com. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^'Madman Entertainment'. Madman Entertainment. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^'Madman Entertainment'. Madman Entertainment. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
External links[edit]
- Banacek on IMDb
- Banacek at TV.com
- Banacek at epguides.com